For Saturday’s trip over the Pennines we have Northumberland official Scott Duncan taking charge as the match referee.
Scott took charge of three North End games last season, although he unfortunately only finished one! The official was appointed to take charge of the last game before Christmas, at home to Nottingham Forest, but picked up an injury early in the game and was replaced by the fourth official.
That was his second PNE appointment of the campaign, having been the man with the whistle for our goalless draw at Leeds United – our opening away game of the season back in August 2017, as well as the home clash with Ipswich Town.
The season before that he refereed the 3-0 home win over Reading in March of last year, which was his third PNE game of that season, having been referee for the EFL Cup win over Oldham Athletic at Deepdale and the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in early December.
In 2015/16 he was the match official for the League Cup tie at Crewe Alexandra, which saw a 3-1 win for the Lilywhites and the year before that he took charge of the team twice, both at Deepdale, our 1-0 home win over Oldham back in August 2014 and the 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient in January.
This is Scott’s seventh year on the EFL lists, having been appointed to the elite group in 2012/13, taking charge of his first PNE game in what proved to be Graham Westley’s final home game, against Shrewsbury Town.
This will be his second Sheffield United game of the season, although his first at Bramall Lane, refereeing their 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers in August, one of his eight games so far in 2018/19, where he has issued 24 cautions and two red cards.
On Saturday he will be assisted by Mark Dwyer and Geoffrey Russell, whilst James Mainwaring is the fourth official.